Kudos to Don Parrish and Patricia Murray Boone for having the intestinal fortitude to challenge the rationale (sanity) of the Bardstown School Board in its zeal to approve a 4 percent tax increase for the 11th straight year. I think it is safe to say that this string of increases will remain unbroken until taxpayers insist that the board return to a level acceptably proportional to economic conditions and the ability of the citizenry to cope with unfettered spending.

It has become increasingly apparent that the Bardstown School District has adopted the “wouldn’t that be nice to have” philosophy of spending versus “let’s ensure the essentials of education.” The majority of the salaries of our citizens remain static, and they are forced to live within their means. The same should apply to the Bardstown School District.

Mega kudos to the Nelson County Fiscal Court for its fiscal sanity in its decision not to increase property taxes this year.

Sincerely,

John Bedford

Bardstown Village Apts.

1000 Harding Street

Bardstown

Merger of county and city governments would be best

I cannot believe what has taken place in city government since the elections. I think our mayor (for whom I voted) and his council have lost all sense of direction.

I, also, supported Tim Hutchins for county judge-executive because I think he and I have the same mindset — merge these two local governments.

I was living in the county when I read that Dr. Harry Spalding was a part-time mayor, and I could not believe it. The offices of the mayor and judge are within walking distance of each other.

City government is not needed in this small town, although Bill Buckman seems to think we are in the same league as Louisville and Lexington. Man, what are you thinking? We in no way have the population, jobs, or cover the area that Jefferson County/Louisville and Fayette County/Lexington cover. They merged, and it needs to be done here.

The mentality of the people in this area who want them to stay separate focuses on sports rivalry. Well, those of you with the IBMs (itty bitty minds) can pay the taxes for the rest of us who are tired of paying high taxes for the stupid, idiotic people who focus more on sports than education and respect for others!

Both governments are investing hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars in a wasteful manner — making changes in areas that had no major problems in the first place.

Government officials do whatever they want, because once they are elected, the voters can do nothing, no matter how it affects us.

We don’t elect people for what they do in this city and county, only for who they are (well-known, not for doing the job they were elected to do). Many have money backers and political clout. They are not there to do anything but have control and boost their egos with the power they have been given.

Linda Linton

Heritage Hills

Bardstown

Putting their lives in danger as part of job is heroic

I’m confused by the article in the Aug. 6 edition of the Standard, “Let’s not confuse admiration with heroism.”

The writer states, “To be a hero, one must bravely face danger or grave risk and knowingly put aside one’s own well-being for the greater good of others.” Yet in the same article, she implies that police officers, firefighters and military personnel are simply doing their jobs and deserve no special recognition for that.

Seems to me that, more than most of us, those kinds of people put their lives on the line every day. And they don’t do it for the pay, or just to have a job, they do it for us, including teachers, plumbers, garbage collectors and other working people. They don’t ask us to risk our lives to teach their kids, fix their pipes, or collect their garbage. Yet we expect them to do just that for all of us.

If the writer’s house catches fire, who does she expect to risk his or her life to save her, her family and her home? A firefighter. Would he be a hero to her then? If someone was breaking into her house some night, who does she expect to put his life in danger to save hers? A police officer. Would he be a hero then?

Our military folks stand ready every day to go to war for this country if called on. Many currently serving have done just that, more than once for most of them. If the writer could tell the parents of a dead soldier that he was “just doing his job, but isn’t a hero,” then shame on her.

The writer doesn’t consider Capt. Sullenberger a hero for landing an airliner in the Hudson River, saving the lives of all on board. I’ll bet if she had been a passenger on that aircraft, she would consider him a hero.

John R. Higdon

8846 Boston Road

Boston

City needs to live within its means instead of raising tax

I was born in Bardstown, grew up, went to church and school with many past and present city officials. Our families knew each other. I respect them as individuals. However it never ceases to amaze me how fiscal conservatives tend to transform into socialists when they get their first addictive taste of other people’s money.

As Margaret Thatcher once said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” Addicts and thieves tend to go back to an easy mark, and the occupation license tax is the Bardstown City Council’s drug of choice.

There will be no restraint if the tax is increased. The City Council is stealing from people that cannot vote them out. The math is in their favor. To the hard-working citizens of Marion, Washington, Hardin and Nelson counties that happen to work within arbitrary and ever-growing city limits, this is theft. We cannot vote them out. The council is drooling at the possibilities of having lots of other people’s money to do stuff. Like an addict on the way to the crack house, they are giddy with anticipation.

The city is living off other people’s money, much of which was stolen as a result of an aggressive and controversial annexation policy. These funds are temporary, not permanent. What happens when Polyair shuts down operations? What happens when AFS moves out of state? What happens when Flaget shuts the doors due to a corporate decision? How would these three events, totally out of the control of the city of Bardstown, affect the revenue? How will Bardstown offset the loss of these ill-gotten gains? Will they go back after the distilleries? Not a chance! They will just steal more from hard-working people that cannot vote them out.

Thank you, Mr. Lydian for your position. Your fellow politicians should follow your lead. To the City Council: Vote NO on an increase to the occupational license tax, live within your means, reduce overhead, and eliminate non-essential positions.